InterGlobe signs a strategic alliance with Air Travel Enterprises

Galileo becomes the exclusive GDS provider to ATE

InterGlobe Enterprises and Air Travel Enterprises (ATE) signed up for a strategic business - commercial agreement that encompasses the various businesses of InterGlobe. This alliance enables ATE for co-branded promotional activities with the numerous airlines represented by the group. Further InterGlobe Technology Quotient (ITQ), the national distributor of Galileo in India, is now the exclusive provider of travel distribution and technology for ATE India.

Popularly known as ATE, the company is among the most eminent travel houses in the country. With over 30 years in the travel industry, the company is one of India's leading travel and destination management company with 16 IATA locations across India and is one of the largest travel agency of Kerala. It is already an accomplished name at handling instant international and domestic airline reservations, air ticketing, travel documentation, worldwide hotel reservations, cargo clearing and forwarding, customer handling and event management.

The online venture of ATE, traveldost.com which is ready for launch is powered by Galileo through its innovative product Galileo Web Services, which is an application programming interface which uses internet-based connections to support data transfer between client-side travel applications and the Galileo Global Distribution Systems (GDS). Through the Galileo core systems, ATE can easily access content for over 450 airlines, 52 low cost carriers, 23 car rental companies and 70,000 hotel properties worldwide. Also with the new guidelines making all carriers e-ticketable, Galileo has spearheaded this revolution being the pioneer in this field, 64 carriers now being e-ticketable on the GDS. All ATE users will now be able to access Galileo's wide array of products and solutions through Galileo Desktop 2.0, the latest offering from the GDS and subsequently service their customers with more choices.

Speaking on the occasion, Bruce Hanna, president and CEO, ITQ, commented: "We are happy to announce our alliance with ATE and welcome our new partners into the Galileo network. We are extremely pleased to win the confidence of our customers and deliver our promise of user-friendly and customised solutions. With this tie-up, Galileo reaffirms the faith that Indian travel industry has in our technology and content. The presence of ATE will further strengthen our market share in the South India market." E M Najeeb, chairman ATE said, "We are delighted to partner with Galileo as our GDS provider. We find the Galileo system to be the most robust and streamlined GDS and are assured this alliance will assist in our growth and meet the needs of our customers."

E N Zaheer, director of the ATE group and responsible for technology and corporate strategy for the group commented, "At ATE, we have believed in adapting and customizing initiatives for the development of both the industry and the travellers. Tourism planning and consultancy is one such initiative that we will be strongly promoting as we have the rich travel expertise and have invested in user-friendly technology."